February 17, 2009–December 11, 2011 at the Getty Center

Admission to the Getty Center is FREE. For visitor information, see information on planning a visit or call (310) 440-7300. All events are free, unless otherwise noted. Reservations are required for performances, lectures, and symposia.

Lectures

The Making and Meaning of Polychrome Sculpture
Michele D. Marincola, Sherman Fairchild Chairman and Professor of Conservation, Conservation Center, Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, introduces the materials and techniques used to create polychrome sculpture and the history of its restoration and interpretation. Participants are challenged to consider the original function of the medium within its religious context, and how the use of polychrome sculpture has influenced its care over time. Presented by the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Getty Conservation Institute. Free; reservations recommended.

Art in an Age of Crisis and Decline: New Perspectives on 17th-Century Seville
During the 17th century, Seville entered into a protracted period of economic crisis and demographic decline. Paradoxically, this same period represented one of the most glorious eras in the city's cultural history. Richard Kagan, professor of history at Johns Hopkins University, highlights those aspects of Sevillian society that helped keep the city's artistic inspiration and creativity intact.

Seville's Artistic Golden Age and Economic Dark Age: 1652–1706
Spanish Royal Sculptor Luisa Roldán dominated the world of polychrome sculpture in late 17th-century Spain. Advanced research on Roldán's Seville is the focus of the day. Scholars from a range of disciplines share scholarship on the role of women artists and the relationship between sculptors and painters in Roldán's Seville. Free; registration required.

Painting Lifelike Sculpture
Join artist Sylvana Barrett as she brings sculpture to life with Baroque polychrome painting techniques including oil painting and estofado, the elegant and elaborate gilding decoration used in 17th-century Spain.